Save our bleeding ears

Over a billion people worldwide are now at risk of hearing loss due to recreational noise. On International Ear Care Day, the World Health Organization warns that it’s up to individuals – and big industry – to create a badly needed change

Exposure to loud sounds can result in temporary or severe hearing loss, and often leads to debilitating conditions like tinnitus – a ringing or buzzing in the ear that can last for days, years, or even decades. Particularly frequent or prolonged exposure to very loud sound can permanently damage the ear’s sensory cells, causing irreversible hearing loss, and even deafness.

A study by The World Health Organization (WHO) suggests that one in seven of the earth’s population are now at risk of hearing loss. Nearly 50% of people aged 12 to 35 in more developed countries are exposed to unsafe sound levels from personal devices, and around 40% are exposed to potentially damaging sound levels at venues such as sporting events or concerts. Naturally, those that work at such venues are at greatest risk. And it’s getting worse: six million people in the UK currently experience hearing loss, and this is set to increase to 10 million by 2037.

Contributing to the problem is a fierce appetite for loud music, without an understanding of what this means for hearing in later life. And it’s an appetite that the music industry is happy to indulge and cultivate. An epic sound system wattage, bigger than any that has ever gone before, is flaunted on posters to sell big club nights.

A ringing in the ears for hours, even days after a night spent facing an enormously powerful sound system can be something of a badge of honour. “In Manchester, people didn’t want to take pictures with the DJs, but with the stacks,” explains 2ManyDJs’ David Dewaele in an interview with Wired Magazine. “If we ran the system at its full capacity, people would die. People’s ears would literally be bleeding,” he said. But, according to the WHO, exposure to noise levels of 100 dB, typical in nightclubs, bars and sporting events, is safe for no more than 15 minutes.

To tackle the growing problem, the WHO recommends cutting music-listening to just an hour a day to help protect against hearing loss. It also recommends taking listening breaks, keeping the volume to around 60% on personal audio devices, and wearing earplugs in loud venues. Noise-cancelling headphones/earphones (which cut other sounds, so a lower volume is needed to get the same audio experience), smartphone apps, and regular check-ups to monitor early warning signs of hearing loss can also help keep ears safe.

According to the WHO, governments need to develop and enforce strict legislation on entertainment establishments, and improve public education on hearing loss. Parents, teachers and doctors can all help to educate about safe listening.

Turn it down!

When we consider the entertainment industry’s role in exacerbating this ‘ear-bleeding’ culture, it’s clear they have an important responsibility to help change it, and keep people’s hearing safe. Venues should use sound limiters, offer earplugs and quieter areas, and manufacturers should include safety features and information as standard on audio devices.

The WHO recognises that these recommendations won’t be popular with everyone, but hopes that more people – and big industries – will make steps to help tackle the growing threat of hearing loss.

Once you lose your hearing, it won’t come back. Dr Etienne Krug, the WHO’s director for injury prevention has said that there are simple preventive actions that can easily prevent such permanent damage – without stopping you enjoying yourself.

“We do realise this is a bit of a struggle,” he told the BBC. “Like alcohol consumption, so many risk factors linked to pleasure are not easy to change, but we have to make people aware,” Dr Krug said.

The louder the sound, the faster it damages the ear. The WHO provides the following ‘safe listening times’ in decibels (dB):

85 dB e.g. the level of noise inside a car – 8 hours

95 dB e.g. an average motorcycle - 47 minutes

100 dB e.g. a car horn or underground train - 15 minutes

105 dB e.g. an mp3 player at maximum volume - 4 minutes

115 dB e.g. a loud rock concert - 28 seconds

120 dB e.g. vuvuzela or sirens - 9 seconds

Some parts of the music industry are already wising up to the issue, and making moves to help protect the ears of the music lovers who attend their events. Cochella, the Southern Californian desert festival, announced last week that they’ll be handing out free earplugs to all festival goers. Rapper Plan B has supported free earplug distribution since he was diagnosed with tinnitus.

“I’ve been in clubs, in the DJ booth, and just felt my ears going,” Plan B told BBC’s Newsbeat “It was so loud and I thought, ‘This ain’t good.’”